The Society
The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) is the UK’s learned society for geography and professional body for geographers. We are also a membership organisation and a registered charity in the UK (No 208791).
The Society was founded in 1830 to advance geographical science and this remains our core purpose. We achieve this through supporting geographical research, education, and fieldwork and expeditions, as well as by advocating on behalf of the discipline, supporting geographers in professional practice, and promoting geography to public audiences.
Our vision
For geography and geographers to be at the heart of developing a world that is more environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable.
Our mission
The Society is dedicated to the advancement of geographical science and its application to the challenges facing the world’s people, places and environments.
Our principles
The Society:
- Seeks to reduce the environmental impact of its activities and encourages others to do likewise.
- Works towards greater equality, diversity and inclusion within its practices and activities as well as across the wider geographical community.
- Recognises the breadth of geographical interests that people bring to the Society and reflects these in its governance and activities.
- Demonstrates professionalism in its work and encourages the wider geographical community to do likewise.
- Seeks partnerships that enhance the impact of geography, and its own work.
- Strives for high quality, and welcomes constructive feedback.
- Is innovative, responsive, agile, efficient and transparent.
Our strategy is informed by these principles and is structured around four key aims: to empower, amplify, engage and sustain geography and geographers.
Foreword from the President
Professor Dame Jane Francis
As I complete the first of my four years as the Society’s President, it is a pleasure to be writing this foreword – reflecting on what we have achieved over the past year and looking forward to the opportunities yet to come.
The last five years have been challenging with a global pandemic, war in Europe, and economic uncertainty underlining what we at the Society already know – that geography and geographical skills are needed more than ever. I have therefore been impressed, as I’ve got to know the Society better, at how the efforts of our members, Trustees, staff and supporters, enable us to have an impact that belies our size. The Society’s strength and influence undoubtedly comes from the breadth and commitment of our community.
The Society has not escaped the effects of this demanding external environment, however it remains our aim to return to covering the costs of running the charity from the income we earn from membership, RGS Enterprises and other charitable activities in the next couple of years. The investments in people and resources resulting from the strategic review undertaken in 2023 are being made with this aim in mind. We will see the fruits of this focused investment in 2025 and beyond, especially with the recruitment of a Deputy Chief Executive who will have responsibility for commercial activities and fundraising to help underpin the long-term financial future of the Society.
Other investments implemented over the past year have seen us reinforce our commitment to making geography truly a subject for everyone by focusing on activities that not only demonstrate the value of studying geography, but also support those for whom geography has not previously been seen as a rewarding basis for a career. Encouraging the next generation of geographers, whatever their background, to fulfil their potential is not only vital for the Society’s future, but also for addressing global challenges including climate change and biodiversity loss.
I have very much enjoyed my first year as President, and meeting you, our Fellows, Members and supporters, has been a highlight. Whether at Monday night lectures, committee meetings or other events, it is clear how engaged you are with our mission to advance and disseminate geographical science. For this, I thank you wholeheartedly and I look forward to meeting many more of you over the coming years.
Image credit: Professor Dame Jane Francis © Lucy Pope
Director’s report
Professor Joe Smith
Writing my annual report provides a rare opportunity for me to pause and take stock, and I am always struck by how much the Society manages to achieve over the course of a single year.
As you will read in the following pages, 2024 was another year brimming with activity and purpose. Over the course of the year, the staff team again delivered impact beyond what might be expected given their number. This is made possible by our committed Trustees and engaged members who contribute in a myriad of ways, including by providing good governance, organising events and offering wise counsel.
During 2024, we asked more than usual from our members and the wider community as we undertook a membership development research project to discover more about what our existing members value and what potential members are looking for. Over 6,600 people responded to the initial survey, including more than 4,000 members, and this unprecedented response has enabled us to get a clear picture of where we are meeting your needs, and what needs some further work before we’re able to consistently attract new members.
One area where we will be continuing to focus is improving our technical infrastructure. Our new member database and website went live in autumn 2023, however the implementation of the database has proved to be very challenging over the last year. We continue to experience issues which we’re aware have affected many of you at one time or another, and for this I am sorry. However, I would like to assure you that the team are committed to resolving these issues as soon as possible.
As Director of the UK’s learned society for geography, I am deeply concerned at the current challenges facing higher education and the potential impact on opportunities to study geography. More and more people are concerned with, and committed to addressing, issues of climate change, sustainability, and social and economic inequality – themes that sit at the core of geography. Rather than looking for cuts, universities should choose to invest in this vital, purposeful discipline and make it more accessible to all.
Anyone in any doubt as to the value and calibre of contemporary geographical research need only look at the programme of the Society’s annual conference. Attending a variety of sessions at our conference each year is one of my annual highlights as it always reminds me what a vibrant community we support.
Among my other personal highlights during 2024 was helping to select the winners in the Young Geographer of the Year competition. The energetic and imaginative responses to the theme of ‘Choose geography’ was a great reminder of the huge benefits of our subject, but also of the quality of students and teachers we have in our community. I was also thrilled by the very positive reactions from varied audiences to the refresh of a number of rooms at the Society, which now contain a mix of unique historical material from our Collections, examples of modern geographical work as well as contemporary art and photography.
Image credit: Professor Joe Smith © Lucy Pope
Report of Trustees
The Trustees of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) present their annual report for the year ended 31 December 2024. The report presents the Society’s activities, significant achievements and successes in 2024 against plans derived from the current strategy and is set out under the four key strategic aims:
- Empowering and supporting geographers in the development and sharing of geographical knowledge.
- Amplifying the contribution that geography makes to understanding the world and how it makes a difference to everyone’s lives.
- Engaging, serving and developing the Society’s membership.
- Sustaining the reputational, financial and institutional future of the Society.
Working for the public benefit
We deliver public benefit through a wide range of activities that support the professional development of geographers and those using geographical skills, knowledge and understanding in their work, the production and dissemination of geographical knowledge, and the demonstration of the relevance and value of geography to society. The Trustees confirm that they have paid due regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit, and further confirm that the activities of the Society are carried out for public benefit.
Our activities reinforce our strategic aims and demonstrate our commitment to our charitable objective, as set out in our Royal Charter, to advance geographical science. Membership is open to everyone with an interest in geography. The Society actively pursues the involvement of the public in debates and discussions – through events, publications and resources – on geographical issues that help us understand the world’s people, places and environments and the connections between them. Members of the public can also access our historic geographical Collections, which contain over two million items covering 500 years of geographical discovery and research.
Image credit: Young Geographer of the Year competition © James Tye
Our grants programme supported 70 field research and school fieldwork projects in 34 countries.
Image: Expedition members hike across Isunnguata Sermia, a glacier of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Small Research Grant 2024 © Tom Chudley
Over 1,000 pupils entered creative and engaging posters to our Young Geographer of the Year competition.
Image: Winner of KS2 category of Young Geographer of the Year 2024 © Bella Stewart
Earth Photo, run in partnership with Forestry England and Parker Harris, showcased stories about our impact on the planet.
Image: Kogel Bay wildfire © Eric Nathan
Our Explore weekend brought together over 330 people from 23 countries to support expedition planning.
Image: Explore audience © Tom Napper
Aim 1
Empower and support geographers, and those applying geographical expertise and approaches, in the development and sharing of geographical knowledge.
To advance the creation, interpretation, and dissemination of geographical knowledge, it is important that pupils, students, teachers, academics, professionals, and expeditioners have access to high quality resources, are well supported in their professional development and are able to achieve their full potential.
To achieve this, the Society will:
1. Advocate for geography to ensure it remains a vibrant discipline in school and at university, and that the value of its research findings and its importance to supporting positive change in society, the economy, the environment and in policy decision making are fully recognised.
2. Support the teaching and learning of geography and its uptake in schools by providing high-quality resources, professional support to geography teachers, and demonstrating geography’s value to further study and careers, with additional support for underrepresented and underserved groups and schools.
3. Convene and support the academic community to advance, interpret and share geographical knowledge fully, to ensure geography students have access to high quality courses that facilitate their development, and to ensure higher education institutions are able to meet the challenges of an ever-changing policy environment.
4. Work with employers to ensure recognition for the subject-specific skills, insights and knowledge of geographers, and those applying geographical approaches and expertise, in the workplace, and increase the number of Chartered Geographers to ensure high professional standards.
5. Demonstrate the many ways in which geographical skills and knowledge are embedded in decision making at all levels of civil society, government, business, and industry, and further promote their use.
6. Support those undertaking geographical field research and expeditions in order to facilitate safe, ethical and purposeful fieldwork.
Our key achievements in 2024
Supporting geography in schools
The Society’s commitment to geography in schools and cultivating a new generation of geographers capable of addressing global challenges remains unwavering as we champion the discipline’s impact and evolve how we approach this work.
The sustained growth in the number of students sitting GCSE geography in recent years (up 12% since 2019 to 297,111 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2024) demonstrates how the importance of geography to young people’s futures is increasingly recognised. While A Level numbers this year were down slightly compared to 2023, the overall long-term trend is also positive with 36,314 students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland sitting A Level geography in 2024 compared to 33,538 in 2018.
Throughout the year, around 1,000 teachers took part in more than 50 CPD events, including a series of sessions across the UK providing training and support using GIS in the classroom and events focusing on topics such as creativity in the geography curriculum, top tips for teaching A Level geography, getting to grips with data analysis (in partnership with Field Studies Council) and harnessing the power of artificial intelligence for teaching history and geography (in partnership with the Historical Association). We also continued to provide dedicated support to Educational Visits Coordinators through our range of accredited courses. Our support for trainee teachers of geography through in-person and online sessions,which introduce them to the work of the Society, were also popular and attended by trainees from 12 initial teacher training providers.
We hosted a variety of events aimed at students in 2024, including our popular School Member lectures which attracted over 600 A Level students. These cover curriculum-linked themes - such as glacial environments, changing places and the impacts of climate change – and are delivered by leading researchers who provide students with the latest insights and up to date case studies to support their learning. Our popular in-person A Level study day, which combines subject knowledge and examination skills, was attended by almost 400 students and teachers. We also continued to support students considering studying geography at university through online sessions with admissions tutors, as well as providing training for teachers wishing to support their students in applying successfully.
Our school competitions allow us to engage directly with pupils. The 2024 Young Geographer of the Year competition asked pupils to produce a poster to encourage young people to ‘Choose geography’, and around 1,000 pupils submitted creative entries that shared information about the benefits of studying geography, the pathways you can follow and the types of jobs that geographers do to make a real difference. The 2024 School Essay Competition, run in conjunction with the Financial Times, invited 16-18 year olds studying A Level geography or equivalent to explore the question: ‘Drawing on information from your daily life, what sustainability action points would you prioritise?’. We also celebrated excellence in school geography through the Ron Cooke Award for the best Non Examined Assessment (NEA) at A Level, as well as the Rex Walford Award for early career teachers wishing to showcase their resource development.
In September 2024, the Government launched an open call for evidence to inform its curriculum and assessment review for England, which is being chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE. Using feedback collected from our Fellows, Members and wider networks, including schools, higher education and employers, the Society submitted a response outlining areas where improvements could be made as well as recommendations for change. In our response, we signalled the value of a geographical education for all young people and also offered our support for the next stage of the review – the subject deep dives – including volunteering to convene an expert working group to make specific evidence-based recommendations.
During 2024, drawing on the latest studies of university researchers, we published a wide range of resources for schools, including ‘Disaster risk and hazard management’ in conjunction with Dr Martin Parham, ‘Maps of Ukraine’ with Dr Katie Parker, and ‘Population change in Britain since the 19th century’ with Professor Alice Reid (all podcasts with an associated resource for School Members). We also produced a range of free resources including ‘I can see the sea’ with Royal Holloway, University of London (a set of 9) and news-related items including ‘Flood alert!’ and ‘Made in India’.
In 2024, we relaunched the Society’s Professional Ambassador scheme, which is mapped against the Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Careers Guidance and allows teachers to easily find professional geographers to visit their schools and talk to students about their careers in geography.
In addition to our response to the Government’s curriculum review, we continued our advocacy work for schools in 2024 alongside the Geographical Association bysubmitting a joint consultation response to the Advanced British Standard (ABS), which has now been paused by the Government. We also provided ongoing feedback to the Department for Education (DfE) on the proposed Natural History GCSE, plans for which have also been paused.
The core of our work for the schools community focuses on developing teaching resources, providing continuing professional development (CPD) training for teachers, and highlighting the range of study and career opportunities available. The Society’s strategic review in 2023 resulted in a reorganisation of senior team responsibilities, with the Schools team becoming part of a new Research, Education and Professionals team. In addition, resource was allocated to enable a member of the Schools team to take on full time responsibility for our progression and careers education work and ensuring we reach a wider range of schools and pupils, increasing the number and diversity of young geographers who areable to benefit from high quality geographical teaching and learning in schools.
To help foster the development of geographical skills and empower young people to make a difference for nature, the Society continued to be a partner with the Natural History Museum, Royal Horticultural Society, Royal Society, and others in the DfE funded project, the National Education Nature Park, to provide educators with the resources, support and guidance needed to put nature at the heart of education.
Image credit: Young Geographer of the Year competition winners 2024 © James Tye
Supporting geography in higher education
Our Annual International Conference for 2024 was held at the Society in London and included more than 400 sessions across four days with over 2,000 delegates attending. The theme, chosen by the conference Chair, Professor Stephen Legg of the University of Nottingham, was Mapping. The conference explored mapping in all its forms in a world that is saturated with maps – from historical cartography to the newest technologies and digital practices. This included a series of ‘map room conversations’ featuring speakers presenting a selection of maps from the Society’s cartographic holdings and engaging with attendees in a close reading of them. One of the conference’s five plenary sessions was organised to align with the 35th International Geographical Congress taking place in Dublin, with Professor Rob Kitchin’s lecture on digital twins and the future of mapping being livestreamed from Dublin, with two respondents in London continuing the conversation.
As well as being active in organising webinars and events for their members, such as a workshop on decolonising development geography (the Development Geographies Research Group) and a discussion panel related to COP29 (the Climate Change Research Group), and awarding prizes for outstanding work within their areas of the discipline, several Research Groups celebrated significant milestones in 2024. For example, the Social and Cultural Geography Research Group marked its 50th anniversary with a day of discussion, debate and celebration at the University of Nottingham in November. During the year, a new Landscape Geography Working Group was formed, taking the number of Research Groups to 32.
Several of the Society’s Research Groups have been collaborating on an online event series focusing on professional development and mentoring for early- and mid-career academics. Sessions in 2024 included the Political Geography Research Group on what mentoring is, the Energy Geography Research Group on navigating interdisciplinarity in job applications, and the Gender and Feminist Geographies Research Group on challenging the scripts of ‘failure’ in academia.
During the year, new funding was made available to enable Research Groups to better respond to external events, for example by convening panel discussions on topical issues.
The Postgraduate Forum (PGF) held their Mid Term Conference in person at the Society in April. Over 80 postgraduate geographers presented their research and enjoyed presentations from two keynote speakers on Emerging geographies. The PGF also supported the Society’s ongoing Postgraduate insights webinar series, which supports geography postgraduate students.
The Society worked closely with the Editors of our scholarly journals during the year to drive submissions, readership and citations. As a result, articles from our journals were downloaded over one million times in 2024 and were accessible by over 10,000 institutions around the globe. Across the year, we received 546 journal submissions and published 203 papers. New editors were appointed to Area, Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, The Geographical Journal, and the RGS-IBG book series. In addition, four editorial board members were appointed for Transactions and three for the book series. Our journals are dependent on reviewers, to whom we are very grateful. To increase the public reach of research published in our journals, we started a new series of research summaries that are published monthly on our website.
During 2024, we published the last two books in the RGS-IBG book series with Wiley and started our new partnership with LSE Press. The move to LSE Press was in response to the changing publishing and funding landscapes both in the UK and internationally and all our future titles will be fully open access, allowing the series to reach a broader audience and achieve greater impact for the research featured. Together, the Society and LSE Press are committed to creating a publishing programme that increases equity and diversity in scholarly publishing.
Our accreditation of university degree programmes has continued this year, with 51 programmes in 11 institutions approved (two new, the others reaccredited). In total, we have now accredited 250 programmes in 60 universities.
Image credit: LiDAR image of vegetation cover. Henrietta Hutton Research Grant 2024 © Kendall Jefferys
Supporting geography in the workplace
The Society accredited 65 Chartered Geographers (CGeogs) during 2024, recognising their competence and experience in the use of geographical skills and understanding in the workplace. There are now a total of 721 active Chartered Geographers with a strong pipeline of professional geographers moving through the application and assessment process. Among the support and guidance we provide for those applying for chartership are a series of application accelerator webinars, tailored events for those working in different sectors, and in-person and online networking events for existing and potential CGeogs to expand their professional networks. In 2024, a proposal was developed for a structured CGeog pathway for geographers working in government, and a new ‘retired’ category was introduced.
Our Geography in practice series of webinars continued to celebrate the contribution of geographers and geography in professional practice. Webinars in 2024 included a series with Queens University Belfast on how their work on the Ethnic Group Deprivation Index can be used to understand ethnic inequalities in local areas, and individual sessions on biodiversity net gain and rural net gain. As well as the live webinars, which provide continuing professional development for professional geographers, the webinar recordings, relevant geovisualisations and case studies make up a valuable reference library of resources.
The UK is a leader in geospatial technology and applications, however for this vibrant sector to continue to grow, there needs to be a skilled workforce of geospatial analysts and geographical data scientists. Throughout 2024, the Society continued to support the development of the new Level 7 integrated master’s spatial data specialist apprenticeship, which had gained ministerial approval in December 2023.
The Small/Medium Enterprise Professional Practice Group (SME PPG) was set up during 2024 to enable Society members who work for SMEs to network and share best practice. The SME PPG joined the Disaster Risk Management PPG which actively supported its members throughout the year.
Image credit: A plenary session at the Annual International Conference © James Tye
Supporting geography in the field
The Society offered a variety of funding opportunities to help support students, researchers and schools undertake fieldwork in 2024. Grants include the Frederick Soddy Schools Award, to support primary and secondary school fieldwork. The Geographical Fieldwork Grant scheme enables teams of undergraduate and master’s students to get into the field. The Fieldwork Apprenticeships give first year undergraduate students the opportunity to join a summer field research project, who would otherwise not have the chance to do so.
In 2024, with the generous support of our donors, the Society allocated £166,000 in funding to support 70 fieldwork projects in 34 countries across six continents. Research topics cover the full breadth of geography, from quantifying snow change and its effects on water availability in the warming Greek mountains to understanding the spatial dynamics of home and work among migrant construction workers in India. Throughout the year, we shared stories of the field research we support through our website, ‘From the field’ social media series, and by welcoming grant recipients in person to speak about their research at Monday night lectures and the annual Explore symposium.
In March, the Society published a statement on the value of fieldwork in schools and higher education, setting out the multiple benefits it provides.
In October, the Society took over the grant awarding responsibilities of the Transglobe Expedition Trust and set up the Ran and Ginny Fiennes Award, which will support purposeful travellers and expeditioners, reflecting the spirit, dedication and inspirational values of the Transglobe Expedition.
In early autumn, the new post of Expeditions and Fieldwork Manager was created to build capacity in this area of the Society’s work. The third RGS Expeditions and fieldwork festival took place from 28 October to 4 November, and included the 48th Explore expedition planning weekend. Attendance over the weekend exceeded pre-pandemic levels for the first time with 331 attendees from 23 countries learning from 84 speakers delivering 21 main-stage talks, 24 thematic workshops, and innumerable informal conversations. The festival also provided an opportunity for 82 expedition and wilderness medics to meet up and develop their skills.
The expedition planning podcasts, produced as part of The Adventure Podcast during 2023, were used throughout the year to help promote the Society’s expeditions and fieldwork resources and have now been downloaded more than 50,500 times in total.
A review of the Society’s risk management procedures for regional committee organised field visits was undertaken and improvements made to the processes involved. BS 8848 was reconfirmed in May 2024, and ISO 31031 for school and youth visits was published in October. The Society’s Off-Site Safety Management courses remain popular and 161 people took part in the training at 16 venues during 2024, while a new cohort of 11 attended a workshop to become trainers in October.
Throughout the year, we also helped teachers to successfully deliver school fieldwork sessions, with workshops supporting newly appointed and experienced Educational Visits Coordinators to ensure best practice for offsite visits, and sessions exploring approaches teachers can use to raise students’ grades in the Non-Examination Assessment.
Towards the end of the year, the Schools team worked with the Jewel of Arabia expedition team to bring the expedition into classrooms in the UK and Oman.
Image credit: Speakers on stage at the RGS Explore weekend © Spike Reid
Looking forward, in 2025 we are
- Expanding our work to embed careers education into the curriculum, including the production of a range of teaching resources showcasing real people with real geographical jobs.
- Playing a key role in the next phases of the post- 16 and curriculum and assessment reviews. Delivering our annual conference in Birmingham with a large community element.
- Supporting the higher education community through a period of significant change.
- Implementing the CGeog pathway for geographers in government and others looking to accredit their analytical professions.
- Progressing the production of digital resources to support expeditions and fieldwork, including a second series of the expedition planning podcasts.
- Awarding three new grants: Ran and Ginny Fiennes award, Gino Watkins Memorial Fund award, and Journey in audio award.
Aim 2
Amplify the contribution that geography makes to understanding the world and how it makes a difference to everyone’s lives.
For the unique contribution that geography brings to the understanding of an ever-changing world to be fully realised, it is vital that the discipline, and its ability to connect the physical and social sciences and humanities, is widely appreciated across all sectors of society including the general public, civil society, policymakers and business.
To achieve this, the Society will:
1. Demonstrate the relevance and impact of geographical research, skills and knowledge to broad public, civil society, policy and business audiences.
2. Recognise excellence in advancing geographical knowledge and practice.
3. Develop the skills, infrastructure and partnerships needed to generate high quality geographical content that can be shared globally, including as mass media outputs.
4. Use an inclusive definition of geography and promote the distinctive capabilities that arise from its distinctive position, breadth and interdisciplinarity.
5. Use the Society’s reputation and convening power to develop and maintain effective networks of influence.
Our key achievements in 2024
The Society continued to deliver a wide variety of public events exploring all aspects of geography in 2024, drawing a collective audience of over 5,300 individuals across 48 events held at the Society in London and online. The number of event attendees is lower than in 2023 due to a commercial letting on the same weekend as the Great Exhibition Road Festival, meaning we were unable to participate in that large event.
Alongside panel discussions on poverty in Britain, responsible tourism and the state of UK climate policy, we continued to experiment with event formats to encourage the participation of a more diverse audience. In July we invited people to observe and record nature through art and upload their findings to the iNaturalist app, contributing to a global citizen science project. Through live performances, poetry, and short films, Underworld: a descent through poetry, celebrated the hidden networks of nature. Due to an increase in both the number and quality of speaker applications received, there were two Geographical journeys: microlectures during 2024 - one as usual in the spring and an additional one in the autumn.
Other events during the year included an exhibition and awards ceremony as part of the Earth Photo competition, highlighting powerful stories about our planet, its inhabitants, and environments. Out of over 1,900 entries, a judging panel made up of experts from the fields of photography, film, geography and environment selected the Earth Photo 2024 shortlist: 112 images and 12 videos by 31 photographers and 13 filmmakers from around the world. A selection of the shortlisted images and films were displayed at the Society over the summer months, which was visited by over 5,000 people, followed by exhibitions at several Forestry England and National Trust sites. Earth Photo also resulted in a significant amount of media coverage for the Society including image galleries in the Guardian, New Scientist and on the BBC’s website among many others.
Since the creation of the new role of Digital Communications Officer in autumn 2023, we have been able to better monitor and understand the impact of our social media presence and implement changes to increase engagement with our content. We have improved our storytelling techniques across our social channels and this showed results during 2024 with posts regularly scoring higher engagement rates, demonstrating more people are paying attention to what we are saying.
The second Esmond B. Martin Royal Geographical Society Prize, recognising outstanding achievement in the pursuit of geographical research with a particular focus on wildlife conservation or environmental studies, was awarded in April. The recipient, Dr Lola Fatoyinbo, is a Research Scientist in the Biospheric Sciences Lab at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center who develops and uses advanced remote sensing technologies and data to understand forested and coastal ecosystems.
Everest 24, the Society’s new book marking the centenary of the 1924 expedition to Everest was published in May. The book uses images and archive materials from the Society’s Collections to explore the vital roles played by the people and communities of India, Tibet, and Nepal in the expedition. The book’s publication, along with the discovery of Andrew Irvine’s boot on Everest in October, led to a large number of media mentions for the Society with the Director quoted in the Guardian, Telegraph and Daily Mail, among other outlets. The Society’s Licensing Manager was also interviewed for ITV news.
In June, we recognised the recipients of our 2024 medals and awards as part of our Annual General Meeting, celebrating the outstanding contributions of 26 individuals and organisations to geographical research, fieldwork, teaching, policymaking and public engagement. The Professional Geography Award and the Geographical Engagement Award were new in 2024.
Image credit: Darvaza Pietà, 2023 © Liz Miller Kovacs
The Society’s Earth Stories initiative supports engagement and action on environment and sustainability issues, by bringing together leading climate, biodiversity and sustainability specialists with key media industry figures, as well as top creative talent, to find new ways of telling some of the biggest, and most tricky, stories of the day. In 2024 we held a programme of well-received events, including two fieldtrips (to Kew and Wakehurst), and two seminars.
A new partnership initiative for 2024 was with the Open University and the International Geographical Union – Voices from the global south – which sought to amplify voices often overlooked in global discussions, foster understanding, and inspire action to combat climate change. The open access educational resources created as part of the project highlight Indigenous knowledge and diverse perspectives on the climate crisis.
The Society signed a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Association for Geographic Information (AGI), the UK membership organisation for companies and individuals working in the geospatial sector, to further collaboration between our organisations. This strategic alliance, in alignment with the objectives and strategies of both organisations, will strengthen communications to maximise the impact of messaging in the geographic sector and beyond, and deliver activities to support three priority areas: leadership, developing people, and knowledge sharing.
During the year we also signed MoUs with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors to further collaboration between our organisations. These strategic relationships will deliver activities to support knowledge sharing, developing professional skills and leadership.
The Society continued to work closely with the Geographical Association, developing a clear plan for our partnership around advocacy, professional development for teachers of geography and joint communications.
Image credit: Walking on the palette, 2024 © Raymond Zhang
Looking forward, in 2025 we are
- Continuing to celebrate to celebrate the outstanding work of geographers, including through our medals and awards.
- Improving our marketing of events through better use of digital marketing techniques, enabled by the introduction of a new Communications and Marketing Manager role.
- Expanding the number of tour venues that the Earth Photo exhibition will visit.
- Advocating for the critical place of geography in any revised English schools’ curriculum and exploring new opportunities in the new post-16 skills landscape.
- Defending the position of geography in higher education during a period of very significant change.
Aim 3
Engage, serve and develop the Society’s membership
For the Society to remain a vibrant and relevant membership organisation, learned society and professional body, it is essential to retain the enthusiasm and expertise of the Society’s current Fellows and Members, while reaching and engaging new ones.
To achieve this, the Society will:
1. Ensure the vibrancy and relevance of geography and the Society’s work by actively seeking and enabling the participation of underrepresented groups.
2. Become more inclusive and diverse in terms of staff, members, trustees, audiences and outputs, and promote the Society as a welcoming institutional home for people with a wide range of experiences, interests and expertise.
3. Recognise and reward the importance of the contribution of Fellows and Members to the Society’s work.
4. Respond to the changing expectations and needs of potential members, in particular young people, in order to provide membership experiences that are valued at all stages of life.
5. Further develop, and invest in, the activities and capabilities that are required to support a strong regional, national and international presence for the Society.
6. Increase, and better target, the use of digital media to communicate and engage with Fellows and Members, while ensuring positive engagement for those without digital access is maintained.
Our key achievements in 2024
The promotion of equality, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) are core values for the practice, study and teaching of geography and for the Society. In schools and universities, inequalities in uptake across race, ethnicity and socio-economic background are significant. The Society’s pilot project Geography for all, was completed at the end of 2023, and during 2024 time was spent reviewing the evidence uncovered by the project and understanding how we could take this work forward with the greatest impact.
The Society also took proactive steps during the year to foster inclusivity and equality of opportunity by supporting strategic initiatives. This included financially supporting the Fi Wi Road internship, which supports Black students in building networks, voice and experience, encouraging them to remain in the discipline after graduation. During the summer of 2024, we welcomed our fourth cohort of Fi Wi Road interns, providing them with direct support and practical experience as they helped with the planning and coordination of our Annual International Conference. This project is just one example of how we are using positive action to effect change and work towards a geographical community where all sections of society are represented and meaningfully participating in the discipline.
Partnerships and collaborative work that amplify initiatives by others in the geographical community with expertise and knowledge are a core aspect our EDI work. For example, the Society was a formal partner in the second phase of the EQUATOR project, which aims to enhance equity and inclusion in Geography, Earth, and Environmental Science (GEES) disciplines through evidence based interventions that target barriers to ethnic minority participation and retention. By the end of the year, the project had produced a series of recommendations and guidance on recruitment to master’s and doctoral programmes in higher education.
Such initiatives recognise and confront systemic under representation and barriers in the discipline of geography, particularly concerning race, ethnicity, and income. These provide immediate opportunities and benefits to under-represented communities but also create a ripple effect, influencing other sectors and disciplines to adopt similar values and practices.
In-person attendance at the Society’s AGM on 3 June was the highest for any year post-covid and participation in online voting was the same as 2023 at 17.5%.
The 2024 Fellowship renewal rate was 90%; 1% above the 2023 rate of 89%. We had 450 new joiners across all categories for 2024 compared to the 2023 and 2022 figures of 376 and 420, respectively. In addition, we had 505 re-joiners, which is higher than both the 2023 and 2022 figures of 345 and 343, respectively. Taken together, Fellow joiners and re-joiners for 2024 are 234, which is higher than last year and 192 more than in 2022.
School Membership decreased by 18% during the year to a total of 478 School Members at the end of 2024, which is similar to the numbers pre-covid. The Society is currently exploring ways to make School Membership more accessible to a wider number of schools, including those that are part of a multi-academy trust.
In the second half of 2024, we undertook a significant piece of membership development research to help us understand what existing members value about the Society, what potential members would value from us and how we reach new audiences. The insights from this research project highlighted where we need to focus our recruitment and retention resources in 2025, including ensuring that the work that we do to support the geographical community is as visible as possible and different groups can more easily find what they value on our website. Alongside the research project, we have continued to improve the stewardship of new members, including the re-introduction of new member events and improvements to the onboarding experience.
Image credit: Fi Wi Road interns summer 2024 © Cynthia Anyadi
The ability to pay membership subscriptions by monthly instalments was introduced in November. This important new facility was made possible by a combination of the new CRM system and a new direct debit service provider, GoCardless. This option will offer us a useful tool in supporting retention of Fellows and Members who find a single payment of the full subscription difficult to afford.
At the April Regions Committee meeting, it was agreed to redraw regional committee boundaries so that they match nationally recognised boundaries and make more sense to public audiences. This will result in 11 regional committees from 2025 across England, Northern Ireland and Wales, including the London committee which was created in 2023. We also have regional committees in Singapore and Hong Kong. Each committee organises a programme of local events and is seeking new members who can help plan fascinating lectures, guided walks, field visits or social events. Regional Committees held 80 events for over 3,000 attendees in 2024. Among these events was The ship beneath the ice: the discovery of Shackleton’s Endurance in Oxford, which was a success both financially and in terms of engagement with over 400 people in attendance. Furthermore, in the autumn term, there were three sold out events: Private view: George Mallory exhibition (East of England); Tales from the Jurassic Coast (South); and Low carbon landscapes: exploring the Sizergh country estate (North West). The committees also continue to support and promote the wider work of the Society, for example organising social events to accompany the Earth Photo exhibitions in Moors Valley and Bedgebury.
Image credit: A joint walk with the Wainwright Society in the Northern Fells, organised by the North West regional committee © Phil Houghton
Looking forward, in 2025 we are
- Expanding upon the Geography for all project with the appointment of a new role dedicated to widening participation in geography.
- Implementing the recommendations from the membership development research project including improving how easy it is to find content on our website via search engines.
- Implementing the revised regional boundaries and benefiting from the administrative efficiencies and public clarity this will provide.
Aim 4
Sustain the reputational, financial and institutional future of the Society.
To deliver the Society’s objectives and achieve its Vision requires diverse income streams, well-supported and well-trained staff, appropriate technology, and good governance structures.
To achieve this, the Society will:
1. Promote a working culture of collaboration, flexibility and mutual support, together with processes that enable the development of capable, empowered and motivated staff.
2. Maintain an agile Enterprise strategy that pursues financial stability in the context of far reaching economic uncertainties, while also actively pursuing new sources of income.
3. Sustain existing, and develop new, relationships with corporate and other sponsors and partners, valuing their financial support, while recognising the mutual benefits of collaborative activity towards shared goals.
4. Invest in the Society’s building in South Kensington to lower running costs, reduce environmental impact, grow income, and provide an inclusive, welcoming and inspiring place for all.
5. Encourage research and support informed debate on its unique Collections and history, to enable critical engagement with the development of the Society as an institution and geography as a discipline.
6. Ensure the balance of representation at all levels of governance reflects the breadth of the Society’s purpose and constituencies.
Our key achievements in 2024
A major strand of work in 2024 has been continuing the implementation of our new membership database, which went live in 2023 but has, unfortunately, proved more complex than anticipated, requiring ongoing development throughout 2024 to rectify outstanding issues. Despite ongoing issues, by the end of the year, many of the planned efficiencies were beginning to be realised, for example in the set up of events and ability to pay membership subscriptions monthly
The Society’s website was replaced in 2023, and a new Web Editor, appointed in April, has worked with staff across the organisation to greatly improve user experience, making the most of the more intuitive navigation and the capability we now have to develop our digital presence further in future.
In 2024, we successfully registered with the Fundraising Regulator, demonstrating our longstanding commitment to ethical fundraising. The registration confirms that, in line with the Code of Fundraising Practice, we are legal, open, honest and respectful in all our fundraising activities, including membership subscriptions, gifts in wills, applications to trusts and foundations, and donations from individual and corporate supporters.
In April, Ordnance Survey signed a renewal contract for a further three years of Corporate Benefactor support. Jaguar Land Rover also confirmed an additional year of support under the current terms in August. A fundraising and tribute event was held in October to celebrate Sir Ran and Ginny Fiennes and the transfer of Transglobe Expedition Trust expedition grant funds into the Society’s grants programme.
The Society received a Special Award from the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 to significantly enhance our visitor experience both digitally and in person. Many members have already benefited from both the enhanced broadcasting capabilities in our meeting rooms as we live stream events, and the improved exhibition display system in our Pavilion. We have also recently received conservation-grade display cases which will allow us to showcase a programme of globally unique historical and contemporary geographical exhibition content across the building.
Work to repair and maintain the Society’s building continued during 2024, including installation of an upgraded WiFi infrastructure, which benefits both the staff team and Venue Hire clients. Work was also completed on a number of other improvements in the building, including an expansion in the coverage of the CCTV system; improvements to the fire alarm system; switching to LED lighting throughout the ground floor; and refurbishment of spaces on the second and third floors to bring them up to standard for letting out.
During 2024, research on the Society’s historic Collections continued, and we welcomed 2,660 visitors to the Foyle Reading Room from January to the end of October (compared to 2,284 in the same period in 2023) to consult or research items from the Collection. We also enabled access to the Wiley Digital Archive for members of the Confluence Collective based in Nepal as part of their involvement with the Other Everests project marking the centenary of the expeditions to Everest in the 1920s. Three AHRC-funded Collaborative Doctoral Award (CDA) studentships started in September 2024 exploring the Society’s artefact collection, fossil fuel colonialism and the global histories of cacao. In addition, during the year, Alice Oates and George Tobin completed their CDA doctoral projects.
We have been bringing more Collections material into view throughout the Society’s building and, over the summer added interpretation panels to existing and new paintings, photographs and artefacts in the Main Hall, Education Centre and Map Room. In addition, in August, a new mural by Hormazd Narielwalla inspired by our map collection, was installed in the Map Room.
At the end of the year, as part of the reorganisation of senior team responsibilities resulting from the strategic review, the Collections team moved to become part of a newly formed Communications and Engagment team.
Image credit: Hormazd Narielwalla with his newly installed mural, Expanding universe © Haydon Perrior
Looking forward, in 2025 we are
- Continuing the improvements to the operation of the new CRM system to ensure that the benefits of the new systems are realised.
- Developing plans for a legacy campaign as well as day-to-day management of legacy administration.
- Continuing improvements to Lowther Lodge including renovating the toilets, replacing worn carpets, and more sustainable use of our heating and cooling systems.
- Redisplaying the Everest through the lens exhibition as a backdrop to encourage sales of Everest platinum prints and the Everest 24 book.
Structure, governance and management
The Royal Geographical Society was founded in 1830 to advance geographical science and was granted a Royal Charter in 1859. The affairs of the Society are regulated by our charter and Bye Laws, which are amended from time to time. The Society is a charity, with the registered number 208791.
Council is the Society’s governing body, and members of Council are the Society’s Trustees. Council has responsibility for ensuring the Society operates within its charitable objectives, providing strategic direction and monitoring performance against annual workplans, and ensuring the effective management of the Society’s assets. Council meets four times a year.
There are 12 Council members elected by and from the Society’s Fellowship and up to four further Council members may be co-opted to bring further breadth, expertise and contacts. An induction into the work of the Society, as well as their statutory obligations as a charity trustee, is provided for all new Trustees. The training requirement for Trustees is kept under regular review.
In line with recommendations of good practice from the Charity Commission, Council identifies the skills and expertise gaps that would be most helpful to fill in the elections to the Council each June. Fellows standing for election are encouraged to state how they meet those identified gaps. However, this approach does not preclude any Fellow standing for election to positions relevant to their background. Council is also cognisant of the value of diversity, while seeking to attract the most appropriately qualified people to guide the Society’s governance.
One of the changes to the Society’s Bye Laws brought in from June 2023, was an increase in the length of each Trustee’s term of office from three to four years. This change only applies to new Trustees elected from June 2023, so Trustees elected before then still serve a three-year term.
The following Council members were in office at the date of this report:
President: Professor Dame Jane Francis
Vice Presidents: Stephen Jones (Expeditions and Fieldwork) | Alan Parkinson (Education) | Ashley Parry Jones (Professional) | Matt Pycroft (Membership) | Professor Jamie Woodward (Research and Higher Education)
Honorary Treasurer: David Scott
Honorary Secretary: Dr Emma Rawlings Smith (Education)
Councillors: Prem Gill (Expeditions and Fieldwork) | Clare Hadley (Membership) | Dr David Preece (Education) | Professor James Esson (Research and Higher Education) | Professor Beth Greenhough (Research and Higher Education) | David Wood (Professional Practice)
(Expeditions & Fieldwork) Clare Hadley (Membership) Dr David Preece (Education) Professor James Esson (Research & Higher Education) Professor Beth Greenhough (Research & Higher Education) David Wood (Professional Practice)
Co-optees: Paul Dickinson | Professor Tariq Jazeel
The following also served as Council members until 3 June 2024 when they completed their terms of office:
Nigel Clifford | Rt Hon Baroness Lynda Chalker of Wallasey | Dr Melanie Norman Professor Helen Walkington | Narinder Mann | Dr Vandana Desai
Elected Council members also serve on the appropriate Committee of Council to provide liaison between the two levels of governance. The Council is advised by specialist committees for Education, Expeditions and Fieldwork, Finance, Professional Practice, and Research and Higher Education. Attendance at these committee meetings averaged 84% across the year. The Finance Committee meets four times a year and comprises a core membership of accounting, financial, legal and investment professionals. The other committees meet twice a year, to give advice on their areas of expertise to Council and Society staff.
In addition, advice was provided by the Regions Committee, a small number of specialist sub committees, including one for investments and, where appropriate, individual professional advisors. During 2024, the Collections Advisory Group approved a series of policies that clarify the Society’s activities in relation to our historical Collections. RGS Enterprises Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Society, is governed by its Enterprise Board.
The following were Honorary Vice Presidents of the Society in 2024 but are neither Council members nor Trustees of the Society:
HRH The Princess Royal KG KT GCVO | Professor Sir Ron Cooke DSc | Sir Christopher Ondaatje KT CBE | Sir Michael Palin CBE
Key management personnel
The daily management of the Society is delegated by Council to the Director and Senior Managers. The Director reports to the Council and has responsibility for coordinating the Society’s activities and a staff that numbered 56 in December 2024.
Director and Secretary: Professor Joe Smith
Director of Finance and Services: Andrew Munro
Director Engagement and Communications: Caitlin Watson
Director of Research, Education and Professional: Dr Catherine Souch
In April 2024, the job titles of senior managers changed from ‘Head of’ to ‘Director of’ to better reflect their responsibilities and to make any future recruitment into these roles easier. In 2024, the Society recruited a new Director of Commercial and Fundraising. After mutual consideration within the probation period, this appointment was discontinued. The job description and requirements of the Society have been carefully reviewed, and we will be seeking to appoint a Deputy CEO in 2025.
The majority of staff members, with the exception of a small number of remote employees, are based at the Society’s headquarters in Kensington, London, but are able to request to work remotely up to three days per week if their role allows.
The Society thanks everyone who has generously donated in support of our work.
Corporate Benefactors in 2024
Esri UK supported many aspects of our education work, including a GIS CPD programme for teachers.
Land Rover supported our Earth Photo competition and exhibition which inspires people to get out into the landscape and appreciate their surroundings.
Ordnance Survey supported our work to advance geospatial understanding among young people, policy makers and professional geographers.
Rolex supported our historic Collections, helping to increase public access and conserving our holdings for future use.
Trailfinders supported our work with the public, promoting the relevance and enjoyment of geography to foster a greater understanding of our world.
Corporate Donor
Inflexion Foundation supported our work to widen access to geography and to engage public audiences with key environmental and sustainability topics.
Corporate Business Member
Silversea engaged the Society to provide informative enrichment materials for their cruise itineraries.
The Society’s Grants Programme is generously supported by
20th IGC Fund | Albert Reckitt Award | Dorothy Hepworth Expedition Award | Edinburgh Trust | Frederick Soddy Award Fund | Geographical Club | Gilchrist Educational Trust | Gumby Foundation | Henrietta Hutton Memorial Fund | Hong Kong branch | H.R. Mill Trust Fund | Jasmin Leila Award | Jeremy Willson Charitable Trust | John and Anne Alexander | John Pilkington | Monica Cole Bequest | Neil Thomas Proto | Neville Shulman CBE | Paul and Mary Slawson | Peter Smith Award | Postgraduate Grants Appeal Fund | Ralph Brown Memorial Fund | Ray Y Gildea Jr Award | Rob Potter Award | The Late Sultan of Oman – Thesiger-Oman International Fellowship | Walters Kundert Charitable Trust
Other donors and funders during 2024
Anonymous donors | Arts and Humanities Research Council | British Council | Department for Education, through the Natural History Museum Programme (National Education Nature Park) | Economic and Social Research Council | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | Hakluyt Society | Jewel of Arabia Expedition led by Mark Evans MBE | Mathematics in Education and Industry / Advanced Mathematics Support Programme | Natural Environment Research Council | Rolex Perpetual Planet | Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 | The Edinburgh Trust No 2 | The Tern Trust | Transglobe Expedition Trust | UKRI
Recognising excellence: medals and awards 2024
The Society’s medals and awards have recognised excellence in the breadth of geographical research, practice and public promotion since the foundation of the Society in 1830.
The two Royal Medals (The Founder’s and Patron’s Medals) are among the highest international accolades. They are awarded for ‘the encouragement and promotion of geographical science and discovery’.
In 2024 His Majesty the King approved the award of the Royal Medals as follows:
Founder’s Medal
Dr Vanessa Lawrence, CB For outstanding contributions to the Society and to the promotion of geography in the UK and internationally
Patron’s Medal
Stephen Venables For his lifetime’s contribution to geographical discovery in the high mountains of the world
The Society also celebrated the following awards:
Victoria Medal
Professor Lily Kong For conspicuous merit in social and cultural geography and in urban research
Busk Medal
Professor Chris Clark For profound influence on the understanding of glacial systems through the ‘British-Irish Ice Sheet’ reconstructions
Cherry Kearton Medal and Award
Leon McCarron For dedication to unearthing the importance, beauty and fragility of natural history
Murchison Award
Professor Stefan Doerr For pioneering research influencing policy and management of environmental risks from wildfires
Back Award
Professor Peter Hopkins For sustained and outstanding contributions to policy development through research
Professional Geography Award
Dr Ed Parsons For excellence in the use of geography in professional practice
Geographical Engagement Award
Professor Ed Hawkins MBE For excellence in public engagement with climate change through ‘Climate Stripes’
Cuthbert Peek Award
Professor Peter Atkinson For scientific advances transforming the understanding of geographical data
Gill Memorial Award (two awards)
Dr Kean Fan Lim | Dr Iestyn Woolway For exceptional early career research with a remarkable track record of achievement
Ordnance Survey Awards (two awards)
Dr Cyrus Golding | Fiona Sheriff For excellence in geography education at secondary level
Taylor and Francis Award
Professor Daniel Arribas-Bel For excellence in the practice and promotion of teaching in higher education
Ness Award
Colonel Chris Hadfield For enhancing the wider understanding of our world and exploration in space
Alfred Steers Dissertation Prize
Kelsey Monteith For the undergraduate geography dissertation judged to be the best in 2023
Area Prize (two prizes)
Dr Ana Laura Zavala Guillen For her paper ‘Feeling/thinking the archive: Participatory mapping Marronage’
Manannan Donoghoe For the best article in the journal in 2023 by an early-career researcher – ‘Intimate extraction: Geological matter, extractive afterlives, and the denial of a Black sense of place in Southern Louisiana’
Ron Cooke Award
Ella Herbert For the best A Level independent investigation (NEA): ‘To what extent are the key players impacting the development of Cambers sand dunes’
Geographical Award
The Ulysses Trust For providing outstanding support for individuals and groups through expeditions
Honorary Fellowship
Dr Sophie Bowlby | Professor David Higgitt In recognition of outstanding support for geography
Carol Lawson In recognition of outstanding support for the Society
Steve Brace In recognition of outstanding support for the Society and geography
Dr Tony Juniper CBE In recognition of outstanding support for conservation
Contact details
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR
T +44 (0)20 7591 3000 | E enquiries@rgs.org
If you would like to receive a copy of this report in PDF so that it can be read in larger print or using Adobe Reader software, please visit www.rgs.org/annualreview
Registered Charity 208791